Eastern Orthodox Psalm Reading Plan

The Eastern Orthodox Church and other churches utilizing the Byzantine rite maintain a system of reading the Psalms weekly. The 150 Psalms are organized in twenty groups, each called a kathisma, and each kathisma in turn is divided into three sections, each called a stasis. Each kathisma is of roughly the same reading length, as is each stasis. This organization of the Psalms is then utilized in determining a set of Psalm readings for each week throughout the year. In most weeks, the 150 Psalms are read through in their entirety in one week. During Lent, however, the full body of 150 Psalms are read twice during the week.

The tables below have converted the kathisma numbers of each set of readings into the Psalm numbers according to the NRSV. With this set of tables and a calendar, one may follow in devotional reading the pattern of Psalms as they’re being used each day in Eastern Orthodox Church services throughout the world. I found great comfort in this practice during a particularly trying time in my life recently. I trust that others will find it so as well.

Sunday of St. Thomas (1st after Pascha) through 21 September

Matins

Vespers

Mon

25-37

38-46

Tue

47-64

65-70

Wed

71-85

86-91

Thu

92-105

106-109

Fri

135-150

120-134

Sat

110-119

1-8

Sun

9-24;119*

—

* in place of Psalm 119, Psalms 135-136 may be used (throughout)

22 September through 19 December

Matins

Vespers

Mon

25-46

120-134

Tue

47-70

120-134

Wed

71-91

120-134

Thu

92-109

120-134

Fri

135-150

120-134

Sat

110-119

1-8

Sun

9-24;119*

—

20 December through 14 January

Matins

Vespers

Mon

25-37

38-46

Tue

47-64

65-70

Wed

71-85

86-91

Thu

92-105

106-109

Fri

135-150

120-134

Sat

110-119

1-8

Sun

9-24;119*

—

15 January through Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Sunday before Meatfare Week)

Matins

Vespers

Mon

25-46

120-134

Tue

47-70

120-134

Wed

71-91

120-134

Thu

92-109

120-134

Fri

135-150

120-134

Sat

110-119

1-8

Sun

9-24;119*

—

Meatfare & Cheesefare Weeks

Matins

Vespers

Mon

25-37

38-46

Tue

47-64

65-70

Wed

71-85

86-91

Thu

92-105

106-109

Fri

135-150

120-134

Sat

110-119

1-8

Sun

9-24;119*

—

Weeks 1 through 4 of the Great Fast

Matins

Prime

Tierce

Sext

Nones

Vespers

Mon

25-46

—

47-55

56-64

65-70

120-134

Tue

71-91

92-101

102-105

106-109

110-118

120-134

Wed

135-150;
1-8

9-17

18-24

25-32

33-37

120-134

Thu

38-64

65-70

71-77

78-85

86-91

120-134

Fri

92-109

—

135-143

144-150

—

120-134

Sat

110-119

—

—

—

—

1-8

Sun

9-24;119*

—

—

—

—

—

Week 5, with the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete read on Thursday

Matins

Prime

Tierce

Sext

Nones

Vespers

Mon

25-46

—

47-55

56-64

65-70

71-77

Tue

78-101

102-105

106-109

110-118

120-134

135-143

Wed

144-150;
1-17

18-24

25-32

33-37

38-46

47-55

Thu

56-64

—

65-70

71-77

78-85

86-91

Fri

92-109

—

135-143

144-150

—

120-134

Sat

110-119

—

—

—

—

1-8

Sun

9-24;119*

—

—

—

—

—

Week 5 when Thursday is the Feast of the Annunciation to the Theotokos (25 March)